La Veille de Noel et Noel

The blessings of being a full time missionary were particularly abundant during the days surrounding Christmas. Gifts, good food, wonderful company with missionaries and members and a baptism Christmas Day.

At the open market on Wednesday as we did our shopping for the long-awaited watermelon (our Christmas gift to each other) the Likau family, who are fishermen across multiple generations, presented us with three large very fresh lobsters and 2 pounds of fresh crevettes. What to do?

Our Tahitian senior zone leader knew exactly how to proceed including securing several gallons of fresh seawater in which to cook them. Sister Mautz thought you just put them into boiling water and cook them until they stop crying (her words) but the process was even simpler. Done when they turn from brown to red. Cleaned the crevettes and froze it all for dinner on Friday. Pictures nearby will give you the flavor of the events.

Sister Mautz baked lots of cookies, 4 varieties, to make individually gift-tagged plates of cookies for each of the missionaries. Those gifts were assembled Thursday morning and gratefully received on Christmas morning with such exclamations as: 'This will probably be the only present I get this Christmas' or 'All for me?' There will definitely be more cookies.

Prior to our dinner appointment Christmas Eve, the combined District and missionary choir presented its second Christmas concert en pleine aire at a local community center in Mont Dore.

In French tradition, Christmas Eve, La Veille de Noel, is the big family gathering and dinner. Every missionary companionship was invited, so we accepted an invitation to dine with the Gayas who returned in July from presiding over the Madagascar Mission. Dinner was delicious and lasted 3 1/2 hours in true French tradition including salmon hor d'ouvres, foie gras with red cabbage, roast duck and a wondrous raspberry dessert enjoyed while watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a presentation of the Nativity. We dined al fresca and poolside with a gentle sea breeze. So much for traditions of snow and fireside coziness. But for the absence of our own children and grandchildren, the setting was perfect. Lengthy dinners provide great conversation times as we learned of their conversion over 35 years ago and the significant contribution (our words, not theirs) over those many years in building and leading the Church in New Caledonia. Missionaries found them, or actually her mother, in going door-to-door. Within 6 months their family, his brother's family and the grandmother had all joined the Church thereby providing the base for the growth of the branch in Magenta.

Noel dawned warm and breezy. Technology provided the chance to talk 'face-to-face' with all of our children and grandchildren in the morning. They were each happy and safe and making great progress in their lives. We are grateful.

By the time we distributed the aforementioned cookies at the office and finished the conversations with the family, we almost missed our breakfast out on the beach with fresh squeezed orange juice, bacon and eggs, toast, hot chocolate and a very large croissant.

The baptism took place at 5p. Pako Kilama is a retired senior police officer. He has been studying with the missionaries for some time. We were delighted to spend part of the day observing the peace promised at the Savior's birth coming into Pako's life through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism. What more could a missionary desire of his Heavenly Father than such a blessing?

Of our 24 missionaries, only three teams had no place to go for Christmas dinner. So we sat down to potato salad, pork chops, lobster and lightly sauteed-in-butter-and garlic crevettes. And the non-traditional dessert of watermelon. Shared experiences of the day and testimony. Went to bed grateful for our Savior, and happy to be serving Him in New Caledonia.

We send our love this holiday season to all and testify that Christ lives as a resurrected Being, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

The days before Christmas

The weeks before Christmas blur across Seminary graduation, the missionaries' Christmas dinner and Soiree de Talent and Branch activities including a Relief Society Cultural evening. The combined District of Noumea and missionaries presented two Christmas musical soirees. And of course a few preparations for Noel including baking cookies.

Following the visit of President Callister, we settled into Christmas mode. Ten days later was the missionaries' Christmas dinner and talent night. These are for just the missionaries, but the members know how much fun they are and hope to find a way to attend. Our Mission President and his wife were expected, but a potential strike by the firemen at the airport made flights dicey for a few days. Although the strike was resolved before their scheduled arrival, their tickets had already been cancelled. But the show must go on.

Musical numbers, clog dancing, jokes, a rap presentation, native dancing by the sisters and then a war-like 'dance' from Tahiti from the Elders made the evening move right along. All in great taste. Pictures nearby will share some of the atmosphere.

Just after these festivities, three of our missionaries departed for home. Sister Richards from Virginia, Sister Carter from Utah and Elder Manarani from Tahiti. Tender departures. Sister Richards lives just a few minutes from us, so we hope to see her again. She hand carried needle work finished for grand child number 11 in the Mautz family.

The following weekend the Noumea 1 branch hosted a Relief Society Cultural evening focusing on several native cultures. Sisters in the branch representing these cultures arranged displays of fabrics and clothing, prepared food indigenous to the culture and then did dances from that culture. Included in the collection were African, Tahitian, Melanesian and Wallisian and Vanuatuan. Even the Elders' Quorum rose to the occasion to present a Wallisian war dance. We were particularly entranced by the children who sat on the floor in front to have a good seat. Every once in a while they had to be moved out of 'harm's' way. A delightful evening with variety of food and dancing. In one particular dance, we learned that a woman who had a blouse extending well down over the top of her skirt was a sign in the native culture of a hard-working, loved woman. You will notice in the pictures a particularly long, lavender over-blouse.

That Saturday, December 19, was the baptismal service for the Nicholl's family. They learned of the Church through the Bluckers whose son has now left to serve a mission in Hawaii. The extended family is likely to follow in the foot-steps of the family patriarch and matriarch. Brother Nicholls has lost a foot due to diabetes. A tender moment observed as two brethren helped him into the baptismal font and unhurriedly got him situated comfortably and just right. The broad smile following told the whole story. His wife and a grand daughter joined the Church with him.

The major Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter are great opportunities to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. This year was no exception. The combined choir of missionaries and the District Choir comprise just over 50 voices. We presented a Christmas fireside to a full chapel and cultural hall of over 300 people. The music presented all fit into a narration of the birth of the Savior and his Atoning Sacrifice. Images of these sacred events were projected. We were delighted to have friends of our own from the apartment building where we live in attendance. Preparing the music takes several weeks of Sunday evening rehearsals giving ample time to contemplate the mortal life which commenced at Bethlehem and whose purpose was realized at Gethsemane and Calvary.

Before we knew it, the week of Christmas arrived. We were concerned that our missionaries were all cared for. But all worked out wonderfully.

Here are two clips from the talent show. The missionaries worked for weeks on P-day to get ready for the show.

What does a missionary want for Christmas (and other news)

So we find ourselves a few days before Christmas, 2009. In spite of music and the Town Christmas tree and decorations, the 90 degree temps can't fool us! And the missionary work continues apace.

On December 2 Noumea officially welcomed the season with a lighting ceremony at the Place des Cocotiers (Place of the palm trees) downtown. The music, including traditional carols, was provided by a small group of singers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The evening was balmy, who could resist. We were en plein aire for the evening with small children laughing and running everywhere blissfully safe without being guarded by their parents. The choir sang and the mayor spoke. We walked leisurely afterwards visiting with missionaries who had come with their 'amis de l'eglise and we visited with these amis. A lovely evening. We are grateful to have Christmas in the summer!

The children of Noumea are in summer vacation which started at the beginning of December. That includes Seminary graduation for the lycee attenders. Some attend early morning, others a weekday evening class. The evening was to have been presided over by the CES superviser from Vanuatu, but the airport strike complicated matters so that he could not come. Several of them spoke sharing testimonies and appreciation for their teachers. Tender moments. I enjoyed the opportunity to address a few remarks to the youth of the district. The evening included presentations of graduation certificates as well as certificates for all those participating. The District President and I shook hands with and congratulated each of them.

We have been helping one of our missionary teams teach a young woman. She is also something of a cook and very interested in learning to make new treats. Elder Huuti concluded that he could get more of Sister Mautz's chocolate no-bake cookies and teach his amie de l'eglise a new recipe. So one afternoon they arrived with ingredients and Sister Mautz conducted a cooking class. Julia Child would have been proud. The results weren't quite up to Sister Mautz's standard as the cook wanted to substitute brown for white sugar. But the elders certainly did not complain!

We attended our first branch Christmas party last night. We enjoy this branch for its unity led by a great, young branch president. The evening began in the chapel with some songs, the reading of the Christmas story from Luke and the Book of Mormon and the sharing of a wonderful experience from Madagascar told by the recently returned mission president who is a member of the branch. The talks developed around the Christmas star as a representation of the light of Christ that leads us all to welcome the Savior into our lives.

A poor, humble villager who worked long hours raising rice, met the missionaries in Madagascar. He could only come to Church on foot until he was blessed with a bicycle. Soon he would ride the 17 km to Church with one child, then return for another, then his wife. Sometimes as many as 5 precariously perched on the beloved bicycle. He joined the church. His family followed. His fellow villagers wondered what had happened to him as he no longer worked on the Sabbath. Soon they asked questions. He talked about his new faith and its blessing to his family and his life. Some of them wanted to come to Church. He was authorized to have a small service in his front yard 3 Sundays a month. Then the rainy season came and his small home couldn't accommodate the growing congregation. The church provided a small tent. They outgrew it. On the hillside a larger tent structure was erected over a plat carved out of the hillside and proudly bearing the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Directed by local leaders, our humble rice farmer, now the branch president. We were grateful to be there.

After this time together, we moved to the cultural hall for a feast of local dishes and gifts distributed to the children and each family by several wisemen who had somehow come into possession of Christmas stockings loaded with cookies, candy and a picture of the Savior. They bore a strange resemblance to the missionaries serving in the branch.

A final set of pictures shares views from our morning walks. Early now as it is pretty warm by 7a. Blue water, palm trees, nearby mountains but no snow.

And so what does a missionary want for Christmas. A package from home. The long awaited only twice-a-year phone call with the family. All wonderful. But best of all is the blessing of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and serving Heavenly Father's children in whatever way he or she can. And should one of these children of Heavenly Father accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how great is the joy of that missionary for the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God.

Baptisms, birthdays and bienvenu...

A very full couple of weeks. New missionary, the last of the branch conferences and 4 baptisms last Saturday.

We welcomed Elder Maker to the New Caledonia part of the Fiji-Suva Mission. Elder Maker comes to us from Tahiti. He is a calm, mature young man and is serving with Elder Styles in Bourail in the northern part of the island. Pictures nearby show him with his district as well as with his companion.

Last Thursday brought a service day at the Noumea wildlife refuge. In tropical settings large plants grow quickly. In this case, we were removing for the 'zoo' woody-leafed plants. Their root systems were large tubers from which the upper part of the plant had to be freed, then hauled up a hill to a refuse point from which they would be hauled away. Under one of these we found a resting local peacock who didn't seem to be disturbed by our chopping. And when we removed one set of cover, this bird calmly walked over to another. The day was hot and the work heavy and dirty. But service to the community here. What a contrast to the daily routine of the work 40 years ago. Pictures nearby will show some of our elders and sisters in the middle of the work as well as a shot of our bird friend if you can find her.

Ward conferences continued in our largest branch with a 'ball' as the Saturday evening branch activity. A dance with a member DJ and a great collection of music. Sister Mautz couldn't resist

The twist and a few other foot stompers. We had a great time and could even walk the next day.

Tuesdays each week bring missionary district meetings. This week we slipped up to Tontouta to attend a district meeting. These missionaries are a little further away and don't see the rest of us very often. And it was birthday week for two of their missionaries. We also wanted to see how Elder Maker was getting along with his new companion.

In addition to the last of the branch conferences last Saturday, we had two baptismal services with 4 new members of the Church. A busy and delightful day. The first were the three daughters of Sylveste who was baptized just a few weeks ago. His daughters have now followed him . Following the service, he had quite a party along the lines of a local 'coutume' or traditional tribe/family gathering to celebrate such events. We missed the event as we had a second service to attend in a neighboring branch.

Bella Lean is a student in the local college. A pair of our sister missionaries found her walking across a park in the opposite direction enjoying music through a headset and not at all welcoming. however a quick hello opened a conversation which interested her since she is largely without family having lost her father at a young age. She is now quite at home in her new branch family.

We close our blog this week with Christmas holidays in view as well as a short zone conference with our Area President and our Mission President and their spouses. The weeks are full. We are grateful to be busy and to see the joy and peace that come into the lives of new members of Christ's Church.

Departure, branch conference and a baptism

We sent our senior missionary leader home after p-day events and transfers. Then a baptism and a branch conference to round out the past few days. And the work continues.

Elder Johnston has been the senior zone leader these last months. He and his companion are the right hand of the Mission President in moving the missionary work forward here. He is gifted in seeing talents in others, in using music and fire sides to invite others to 'come to Christ' and in administration of all the details of keeping things going. He is also a great eacher.We miss him dearly although the work seems to progress nonetheless. He left a week ago on Wednesday morning. Just before his departure, many of the missionaries gathered for a p-day picnic and kickball game. Pictures are nearby as well as a film clip of the old man in the hat running the bases.

Then it was transfer day as other missionaries moved into their new responsibilities with his leaving. Lots of tender emotions as teams that had worked hard together were sent off to take on new opportunities. we marvel at how these young men and women work together learning to help each other, take advantage of each others strengths to the mutual benefit of the companionship, and then move on when asked without missing a beat. We will see a little more of this just before Christmas as we send two of the sister missionaries home as well as another elder. We anticipate the arrival of new missionaries to replace them.

Evidence of the work's progress was another baptism, Madeleine Tui on Saturday. She is a young, educated women from Vanuatu where she was a teacher. To re-certify here is a 3-year process. With her young children she is challenged to take that time. An avid reader, she was anxious to learn about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Read everything she could find including the Book of Mormon. She was eager to be baptized and is anxious to serve her friends and family with her new faith. The newly found joy in her life is evident in the accompanying picture.

In the midst of all was another branch conference. These annual events bring the district leadership into each local congregation for training. This weekend it was the Noumea 2 branch which meets in the chapel in Magenta near our little office. Events started Friday evening with a snack provided by the branch and then teams formed between branch leaders and district leaders to visit those less active or otherwise in need. Elder Mautz was paired with Frere Bearune, a counselor in the Elders' Quorum Presidency. Also the son of the Branch President in Mare. He is a returned missionary and young father. A delightful evening getting to know each other and some of the branch members.

We rejoined the branch leaders Saturday morning with a petit dejeuner of hot chocolate, croissants, then leadership training for the morning. A sports day followed all afternoon and then a Soiree de Talent that evening. Quite a day. Pictures and film clips nearby will share presentations from each of the auxiliary organizations including the Primary and Young Women as well as the Relief Society and the Elders' Quorum. The entr'act was provided by a 'Tahitian' band which the branch president plays in also. The weekend's events were dampened by the Friday night car accident involving a branch member and his young family. A head-on. They were fortunately in a pick-up truck that protected them. The German-make sedan that hit them in their lane head-on exploded on impact killing its four occupants. Prayers for those who lost loved ones as well as gratitude for the protection of family were evident throughout the weekend.

One event from Branch Conference also stands out. Elder Mautz visited the Aaronic Priesthood young men during their hour. Inasmuch as there was no Priest present, the younger Teachers' Quorum President conducted with no advance warning. He capably stood, selected an opening hymn and someone to direct it, welcomed us all, called on another young man to share a favorite scripture as the spiritual thought. Then thanked everyone for what they had done and called on the visiting District Young Men's President to give a lesson. Delightful for a 14-year-old boy. A picture of the group is at the end of the 'Soiree' slideshow.

The weeks slip away with lots of activity. We will welcome a new missionary shortly as well as celebrate holidays and a zone conference with our Area President. One at a time Heavenly Father gathers his sheep back into the fold.

Some fun clips from the P-day picnic and a traveling Elder Morrill.

Missionary departure and Travels

Scarcely time to update the blog these last few days.

A week ago we sent Elder Blucker off on his Mission serving in Honolulu, Hawaii. We enjoyed a family home evening with his family at home, set him apart as a missionary and sent him off. Our son, Chris met him in SLC amidst a snow storm and 2 1/2 hour late flight. Elder Blucker was traveling with another missionary not from our District, also going to Hawaii who spoke no English at all. They were on a shuttle for the MTC promptly. Chris reports they were quite animated even after the long flights and layovers. And their first experiences with snow.

The Bluckers are a delightful family. Elder Blucker is the oldest of their 5 children. Another son is a year younger and then 3 daughters. The younger brother will depart in a year and before his brother returns. Their father served a mission when he was in his 30's. So he is now 66 and sending his oldest son off to serve. In the meantime, they are building, largely themselves, a new home quite large by local standards. They have moved into it although it is not yet finished. Mild climates facilitate unfinished ceilings as long as the roof is tight. Kitchen and bathrooms are moderately functional. I admire even more their clean white shirts each week!

Pictures nearby present the family and our time with them. We will have left before Elder Blucker returns from his mission, but we hope to be able to help his younger brother.

We are in the branch conference season here. The first was in Tontouta 10 days ago. The usual agenda for the conference weekend is a reactivation effort with branch leaders on Friday night

followed on Saturday morning with training by district auxiliary and Priesthood leaders with the local branch leaders. These are adapted to local needs. In the afternoon or evening the branch hosts an activity of their own planning for the branch members. We do know how to party. Nearby is a film clip of the Samoan group doing some singing as the activity begins.

There is a video clip at the bottom of the blog.

We split forces for the weekend while Elder Mautz traveled to Mare (pronounced mar-ay) and Sister Mautz attended a baptism in Noumea. the pace of the missionary work seems to be picking up a bit. These good missionaries are working quite hard. The sister who was baptized this week is a caregiver. She had been attending many different churches over the last few years trying to find the truth. One of her 'patients' is a member of the Mont Dore branch. She noted some pictures of latter-day prophets and asked about them when she visited this patient at home. Six months of study with the missionaries ensued culminating in her baptism last weekend. Her children, all young adults, attended both her baptism on Saturday afternoon and her confirmation on Sunday. Her first contacts with the Church were in the Mont Dore branch where her patient lives. However, she lives in the Riviere Salee Branch and was taught by the missionaries there. We are grateful for the co-operation between these teams of missionaries

In the meantime, Elder Mautz was off to Mare, another of the 'Loyalty Islands off the east coast of New Caledonia. Like Lifou, the island of Mare is largely flat, heavily wooded and sparsely populated. A small branch of the Church continues under the faithful leadership of President Bearune. He runs 3 small retail establishments on the island as well as a small towing business. His large family, primarily grown now, has served missions. Some of them are in Noumea, others in Mare. On his property is the small meeting room as well as his own home with an apartment for his aging parents.

He met us at the airport at 7a as we landed and spent the day visiting with us various members of the branch and friends of the Church who were desirous of learning more. His commitment and personal testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was humbling. No expectation of any reward or blessing for what he does. Just love for the people around him. True charity.

We checked into our 'hotel' just after noon and prepared for a fireside we would present that evening. The hotel was a step up from the one in Lifou with a small separate building for each room. Ours had its own bathroom and was air-conditioned if we needed it. Normal beds, although the Tahitian zone leader put his mattress on the floor! Sister Mautz would have been more than comfortable there including the nearby restaurant. We will have to return.

Our visit including the fireside, Church meetings on Sunday and then a presentation of the recently released video on President Monson, filled the days particularly when filled in with visits to homes of members and friends. We slept hard each night. Now catching up on some lost sleep.

An interesting physical characteristic of Mare is that the surround reefs are much closer to shore than either Lifou or where we live in Noumea. As a result, the surf crashes close to shore and can be heard all the time. Here in Noumea, by contrast, the reefs are many miles from shore and the breaking waves are a mere ribbon of undulating white at the horizon. We never hear it. So Noumea has large lagoons with moderate water action other than the tide. We were lulled to sleep both nights by the breakers.

We are grateful to see the work progressing and to be strengthening Heavenly Father's Kingdom in this part of the world.

Conferences

We are at the end of a two-week period of General Conference followed immediately by our District Conference and a Missionary Zone Conference.. In the middle of all this, at home our stake presidency was re-organized and our ward was divided. Life in the Church certainly moves on!

General Conference here follows by a week the conference itself. A re-broadcast on Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10, bring all of the sessions into one of the buildings. We start Saturday with the Saturday evening Priesthood meeting and them both Saturday sessions with one-hour breaks between them. And the Sunday sessions the next day. The building was full on Sunday. Re-broadcasts are in both French and English in separate rooms. Encouraged to study in their native tongue, the English-speaking missionaries watch conference in English unless they have 'amis de l’eglise’ who are also attending.

The universality of the Gospel message including the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, through appropriate Priesthood authority, is evident. Our members and their friends are eager to listen to living prophets.

One of the speakers, a native African, spoke of the liberation to his people by the Gospel because the very-expensive custom of dowry, which forces many in his country into co-habitation makes marriage too expensive. Temple marriage eliminates all of that. The people here understood those issues very well. Some of the tribal customs still exist in the northern part of the country.

District Conference for the Noumea District loomed much larger for us. Priesthood leadership meeting Saturday afternoon. For the Priesthood leadership session, I spent 40 minutes in front of a ‘white board’ leading a discussion on branch councils and presiding over them. Then talks Saturday evening and again Sunday morning. A deep breath when all was finished. And a delightful luncheon provided by one the branch Relief Society organizations. Pictures nearby don't begin to catch the flavors of the cold repast. Raw fish marinated in lemon juice then added to a salad of cream and raw vegetables. Perhaps one day I will learn...

But the highpoint of the entire district conference was Sister Mautz’s testimony Saturday evening. She had 5 minutes and she prepared well and worked for hours on her pronunciation. As we always do on this island, she started with 'Cher Freres et Soeurs, bonsoir' with the congregation responding likewise. And then a small child’s voice responded just enough too late to be all alone and clear. There followed complete silence during her entire talk. Nobody wanted to miss a thing. After the session, the choir of sisters also on the stand crowded around for kisses. ‘No more English for Sister Mautz' from one of the branch presidents. Still talked about a week later, and these wonderful missionaries were proud of her and grateful for her efforts.

We enjoyed a zone conference following. We move to a support role in those meetings. We were bidding farewell at the end of this conference to two of our seasoned leaders, both from Tahiti. It is interesting to watch those who remain and know that they will be asked to step up and take on leadership roles they have not had before. These new leaders will be non-native French speakers and know the challenges they face both with the language and leadership. However, they also know that with Heavenly Father's help, they will grow into these new roles and provide the great leadership the work of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires. One of the departing Elders, Elder Aiho, was of great help to us as we arrived a few months ago getting us settled and then learning our office duties. He was asked in the last 6 weeks of his mission to work with a branch where the missionaries aren't always well received and turned things much more positive. We have worked together, counseled together and now will likely not see each other again. Sweet associations because of the opportunity to serve Heavenly Father's children.

We did take a morning to visit a local cultural center dedicated to the memory of M. Tjibaou who has done much to preserve the local, Melanesian culture and support the political kanak movement. The architecture catches the eye with delicate symmetry of wooden rib-like trusses in the air. In the morning sun they look like metal glinting in the sun. The center includes these structures as well as a 'typical' Melanesian village with a chief's 'case' and other related buildings. Pictures below will give you flavor of the place. The political overtones are unmistakable

Lifou

The bookends to the week were a family home evening with a family from the Noumea 2 branch and then a trip to the island of Lifou with the senior zone leaders for Elder Mautz.

As we get to know the members better, we are more often now invited to their homes for a family home evening. The Trutruns are members of the Noumea 2 branch which meets in the chapel just adjacent to our office. He is a self employed contractor. When he has made enough to sustain his family, we often see the whole family at the chapel working at maintaining the grounds or cleaning the building. This particular evening, the local sister missionaries, Sister Carter and Sister Swapp were also invited as were some recent converts and friends of the Church. We made quite a group. We started the evening playing a simple game with the younger children. Sister Swapp had brought with her a series of Gospel picture cards which we could turn picture side down on the table. By turn each tried to find a matching pair of pictures. As the players succeeded at this, they 'won' the cards and could then retell the story depicted. The children were quite engaged in the game. After a dinner with too much good food, we enjoyed a viewing of a dvd of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Brother Trutrun invited various of us to share our feelings and testimony about the restoration and the blessings in our lives resulting therefrom. An edifying evening for all of us.

In these situations, we often sit outside to eat, watch the film and then talk together. The climate is such that the house and small yard are easily all apart of the living space at the same time. As a result, homes don't need to be as large because the outdoors is part of the living area.

Saturday morning, I flew to Lifou to join the senior zone leaders who had gone the previous day. Our objectives were twofold. First to visit with and strengthen the local small branch. Second, to evaluate the situation and formulate a recommendation for our Mission President as to putting a team of missionaries back on the island. The last had left in February, 2008. Sister Mautz stayed at home to the disappointment of the saints in Lifou and the surprise of those in Noumea. As she explained to the District president, 'Elder Mautz spoils me and doesn't make me go camping.'

We stayed in a small, Lifou-version of a bed and breakfast. Our 'room' was a case (pronounced 'caz'). This is a local dwelling with a thatched roof supported at the perimeter of the building by a wall made either of stone, concrete or sticks. The roof slopes up from this supporting perimeter to a peak usually 10-15 feet overhead. In those used entirely for living space, a fire pit is in the center. Smoke therefrom fills the upper part of the case seeping out through the thatch. I am told this leaves a layer of 'clear' air from the floor up to the point where the roof starts sloping in to the peak. The inside of that roof is coated with the soot accumulated over many usages. Ours did not have the firepit nor the soot. Pictures nearby will give you the idea.

Lifou is a large island off the east coast of the 'grande terre' or main island of New Caledonia. It is part of the country, flat, in contrast to the mountains of the grande terre, and heavily wooded from one end to the other. Sparsely inhabited, a couple main roads join the small villages and run the length and width of the island. The island is rocky with some beautiful beaches, clear, blue water and beautiful bays. Pictures nearby will show you a few shots of the landscapes and seascapes.

At my arrival, we went directly to the branch president's home for lunch and some planning for the two days I would be there. The Seikos are a remarkable story in themselves.

You will recognize the name as they have two children currently serving full time missions here on the grande terre. They are both working very hard and great missionaries. Meeting the parents told the story.

President Abel Seiko grew up on Lifou but went to Noumea as a young man to work. He and his wife both had good jobs in Noumea. But when he felt impressed to return to Lifou to strengthen the Church several years ago, they both quit these jobs and moved their family of 5 children of their own and 3 others to Lifou. The tribal system granted them a large tract of land covered with scrub woods. They have cleared all of that, built a case for sleeping quarters and another small building housing the kitchen, computer and a working space. Sister Seiko now has an enormous garden where she raises lettuce, tomatoes, papayas, pineapples and whatever else she believes she can sell. She tells me she is making more with her garden produce than she did in her business of providing transportation for school children when they lived here. As she showed me her garden and their living quarters she turned to me and said, 'Elder Mautz, je suis contente.' She wanted me to know she is happy with all of this change in her life.

President Seiko rides a bicycle to work. He bought the cycle from Elder Freddy Axelgard, a good friend of ours. Readers may recall our meeting him at the MTC while we were there. He was back from his mission in New Caledonia as we were leaving and served in Lifou for 6 months. Left his bicycle behind with the Seikos.

I thought their life showed a new dimension of serving Heavenly Father with all their might, mind and strength as the Savior instructs us. Pictures nearby show some of the yard and garden.

The season of late Spring here is the time when amaryllis bloom. They are planted here like tulips would be in the States and are striking additions to a garden.

Before lunch, we harvested fresh coconuts from high in the palms, opened them with a knife-like instrument with a 30-inch blade to chop it open. the milk' is drunk right from the coconut as well as being used for cooking and salad dressings. Quite a delicacy. Pulling one of these down from a tree was quite an art also so as not to get one on the head. Elder Huuti was a master at it.

The rest of the day was spent visiting members of the church, as well as those that Elder Johnston remembered from the early days of his mission when he worked in Lifou for 3 months. His memory was impressive as he navigated us over the island in our little rented Peugeot. We held a fireside that night and then slept very hard. Sunday brought Church services with the branch and then temple recommend interviews with most of the adults in the branch. They will join the members here in Noumea for the annual 3-week trip to Auckland to the Temple there next January.

And then, suddenly, it was time to fly home. I reflected on the lessons of this island with a lifestyle very different than any I have lived. Simple and agrarian. However, the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ including faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, obedience to Gospel principles, families joined together eternally and founded on the scriptures are quite as important to these good members as anywhere else in the world.

Two baptisms and a birthday

The week slipped away amidst lots of small tasks and efforts. And with much anticipation for the weekend.

Fridays bring for us a meeting with the zone leaders. During that meeting we discuss overall needs in the mission work in New Caledonia and any concerns for individual companionships as well as what we might do to help. We also discuss the overall status of the work. At our last meeting we discussed the status of each new convert during the last 12 months as well as what we might expect for the rest of the year. The number of active friends of the Church attending Sacrament Services and actively studying with the missionaries was almost double the number of baptisms thus far this year. Many of them were families and most had friends already members of the Church. I suggested they put together plans for each one. Our meeting was delightful.

The weekend brought two baptisms in two different places at the same time of day. Senior couples get stressed over such conflict. Nearby pictures show you both baptisms, One in Tontouta and one in Riviere Salee. The first, in Tontouta has been scheduled for some time. Marceline Boa’s young son was baptized just a few months ago shortly after our arrival. Due to the difficulties of tribal customs here, she and her ‘husband’ had never legally married. That was completed last month. He is a good man and attended the baptism. I had a chance to speak with him a couple times. I urged him to prepare himself so that the two of them could then be married forever in the Temple. He is getting himself ready. A few things in life to change. We parted good enough friends that he will invite me to his baptism. A good number of family members were also present.

Meanwhile in Riviere Salee another baptism was taking place. Again with a chapel full of members, friends of the Church and missionaries. This time the baptism was performed by Brigitte’s husband, so we were completing a family. She has been studying the church for some time. They too are looking forward to the Temple in a year. These good people, from different ethnic backgrounds grasp the same universal principles and eagerly anticipate full activity in the Church. Members are eager to welcome them. Home teachers are in place. We want to take good care of these new converts.

We watch the work with wonder. We also observe how faithful these young missionaries are. Two quick examples.

A young elder in Ducos has been thrust into leadership earlier than he might have felt prepared. Conducting his first district meeting with 7 other missionaries present, he has planned a discussion to train us, conducts the meeting entirely in French and suggests some ideas in response to questions that arise from the teaching going on in his district. He successfully navigates the language finding ways to express thoughts when he doesn’t always know exactly the vocabulary he might want to use. He arrived just after we did and is working hard. We are grateful for him.

In the Sunday class for those studying the Church another young elder is teaching a lesson about the importance of families. Among the concepts he teaches is that of families working together to care for their home. Discussion follows with questions about what to do if the children don’t want to work in the home. He sights his own family and how grateful he is for his own mother. At least, he notes, he knows how to clean his apartment, wash the clothes and iron his shirts. Perhaps the only remaining question was ‘Have you thanked your mother and told her you love her?’

The last event of the week was Sister Mautz’s birthday. With her permission, we note it was the 60^th. And we were in a French speaking country just like for mine! On Monday, the missionaries’ p-day, we had cake and a good group of them gathered to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. They are pictured nearby. No sound clip. It was all spontaneous. Birthday cards and all.

Much of our work is seeing what needs to be done and getting it done. Whether that is government visa issues or training local leaders or supporting missionary activities. We do what we do because the Lord has asked it of us. We love Him and our Heavenly Father. What more can we say?

Three little experiences

Missions for senior couples are interesting. Sometimes you wonder if you are doing all that you should be. And then Heavenly Father blesses, sometimes in an overwhelming manner, to let you be of service and share in bountiful experiences.

By the beginning of the week, we were rested and recovered from the conference experiences. And we had a list of things to fix in the apartments. So off we trekked Wednesday morning, tool kit in hand, like 24/7 repair people to fix a washing machine and a phone. The washing machine was flowing water all over the floor of one of the sisters' apartments, the phone was full of static such that it couldn't be used to make appointments or follow up on meetings. We had taken our car in for servicing, so we were even driving one of the little white panel truck Berlingos. We looked like repairmen. Sister Mautz demurred on the picture of this one. You will have to use your imagination.

The washing machine was a quick fix by cleaning out the filter. In these machines the filter is hidden behind a panel at the bottom of the machine. The sisters were very grateful. As were we to have the fix be so quick. The phone took two tries. We were pretty sure it was the machine and not the line. And so it was.

Later in the week we also supplied insecticide to kill cockroaches (cafards) that are infesting two apartments. (Don't ask!) The elders were triumphant. A quick spray behind the washing machine and refrigerator and out they all came scampering to their demise. This is the apartment with the new refrigerator as the cafards had infested the insulation in the last one.

Real success. Now for the 3 experiences.

Experience 1:In addition to washing machines, phones, cafards etc, one of the apartments needed a new iron.

An easy purchase which we did while doing our weekly grocery shopping. However, to get the 3-month warranty, the purchaser has to go to a 'help desk.' I couldn't be bothered. But Sister Mautz was insistent. 'What if doesn't even work?' she queried. Then she took the iron out of my hands, sent me to the car with the groceries and did it herself. (Don't think 'little red hen.') We speak French here. I was awed at the confidence and let her take it. She returned triumphantly shortly thereafter telling me they had asked for the sales slip, she had asked if they really needed it, they said no and she had it all taken care of. Just think about that a minute.

Number 2:

Saturday morning was a double baptismal service. The 8-year-old grandson of a loving, member grandfather who did the baptism. And a new convert who brought his whole family including brothers and their wives. More than 50 in attendance including several teams of missionaries all with friends of the Church with them. At the end of the service, the newly baptised are invited to share their testimonies as new members of the Church. Both these were articulate and great feelings. The young boy is Primary age, knew what he was doing and shared his feelings of knowing that he had done what his Heavenly Father wanted of him. The second, Sylveste, quoted Biblical and Book of Mormon scripture, promised his family that he was sincere and that the new man they were encountering was for real.

The missionaries who are teaching him recount that now that he has started moving forward with his Church membership, he teaches them as fast as they teach him. he has read the Bible through and quotes back to them scriptures passages as he now understands them with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He will undoubtedly enjoy holding the Priesthood so that he can bless his family.

We lingered and then came home to catch up a little. Later in the day we visited a local town museum tracing the history of Noumea from the French arrival in the mid-1850's through the two world wars. The political themes woven into the presentations were hard to miss. First conscriptions of the local Melanesian population in WWI. Veteran benefits denied them for a lengthy period of time and finally granted shortly before the start of WWII. The focus was clearly on the local population and its war heroes. History sounds a little different from this point of view. However, the Allied influence in building Noumea, providing sanitation facilities, hospitals, a railroad, airport etc. is real and quite evident even today.

The building itself dates back to the late 1800's and was built as a bank. When it went bankrupt the City bought it as the town hall and then it became this museum. Since it is so old, the architecture is reminiscent of pre-air conditioning with broad porches on two levels to provide relief from the summer heat. A few pictures are nearby. The poster of Charles DeGaulle is clearly of a later vintage.

Experience 3. Later Saturday evening, we met with a just-returned, radiant sister missionary for her release. Her family was with her. What a tender experience as she shared highlights from her 18 months in Montreal. Be obedient to your leaders. Heavenly Father is waiting to bless you and provide all that you might ever need. Not because you have earned it, but because He loves you. Just be obedient and ask in prayer. Her faithful parents and younger siblings are delighted to have her home. A difficult moment as she was released and had to remove her missionary name tag that has been her identity these last many months.

And so we look back on the last few days hoping that we in some small way have contributed and grateful for the opportunity to be here to share in the lives of these great people whom we love.

Zone Conference, BBQ and travel

We spent the week welcoming our Mission President and his wife. They arrived Wednesday evening. Much of their time is with the young missionaries whom they both individually interview. During these hours we spend time arranging for meals, being sure we know who is to be where and when. However, during this week there was also a fair amount of member interaction as we traveled once again to Bourail and then on to Houailou to meet with members needing his attention.

Friday morning President Ostler and I were off early for the 3 hour drive to Houailou. We stopped in Boulouparis, 90 minutes north, to pick up two of our missionaries who were meeting one of their friends of the Church. Dropped them off in Bourail to wait for her and picked up two others who accompanied us the last hour of the trip across the island to Houailou. There he was to interview three members for their first opportunities to be in the Temple in New Zealand in just a few weeks. Their excitement at the prospect of having their families joined together as a family unit forever including after death was a feast in itself. They had carefully prepared themselves knowing the fundamental requirements to be worthy to enter the Temple. Family relationships and ties are very strong here. The Gospel of Jesus Christ promising that these ties can endure beyond the grave is worth whatever sacrifice of money and time is required. Humble people who save all that they can for the trip and then are helped by brothers and sisters who share the cost of such a trip with them in gratitude for the Savior's atonement, making possible such great blessings as families being families forever.

We also enjoyed renewing acquaintance with these good people whom we have not seen in several weeks since our last trip north. Lots of kisses on the cheek and warm embraces. These good people know how to say 'hello!'

Our good elders in Bourail prepared a lunch for us before our return trip. We arrived home from this trip about 3 hours later than we had expected. By then, Sister Mautz was hosting 'Sisters' night' at our apartment, so we brethren were 'not allowed' until they finished up. A few pictures nearby present them as their evening concluded.

This visit from the Ostlers was a longer one, so Monday, the missionaries' P-day brought them all in for a few hours in the middle of the day for a BBQ. We asked one of the members to come cook for us. The missionaries provided salads and desserts. Volleyball games, basket ball, football and lots of visiting. Perhaps you are wondering just what the sister missionaries did. Always glad to see each other, they had lots to talk about and also more than held their own in volleyball. The wind was strong so the weather felt almost chilly, but we all had sunburns by the end of the day.

Sunday sent us to Mont Dore for meetings. I continue to attend each branch on a rotating basis to see how things are going and to do temple recommend interviews. I was pleased at seeing the results of my training from 10 days earlier as the Elders' Quorum President distributed the Family Guides to each father present, taught the Quorum members a Priesthood ordinance and then presented the organization of his home teaching assignments by team and to whom they were to report. I got reports from two other branches that similar lessons had occurred. These good brethren are eager to learn their duties so that they can bless the lives of their quorum members by serving them.

Visas have been a particular fascination this week. Two of them. One for a missionary departing from New Caledonia, Elder Blucker, to serve in the USA in Hawaii. He, of course, needs an American visa. The other for a member from Vanuatu needing a French visa to come to New Caledonia. We waited an extra 2 months to get our French visas, allowing us to prepare a little better both in language with our MTC tutor and in getting a few things taken care of at home, but also introduced us to several people in SLC who are knowledgeable in US visas. We have made good use of those contacts over the last several weeks for Elder Blucker. So there WAS a reason for all of that waiting. His departure to the US has also been delayed two months waiting for the processing in the US. And then we find that after the visa is done, he must present himself at a US Embassy, in Fiji, it turns out, for an interview and to have his passport 'stamped.' Those interviews happen only twice a day and only on certain days of the week. The earliest available date is October 1. I was grateful we weren't waiting for a medical procedure! Never again shall I complain of the French bureaucracy after dealing with the US brand.

Our Vanuatu Elder just needs to know how to proceed. Nobody in this part of the world really knows how to get a French visa. The US elders get SLC support, the Tahitian elders are already French citizens and don't need a visa. Again, much that we learned going through the process in the US ourselves has helped here as we learned how to get the proper documents signed and send them off to him. A trip to the Office of Foreigners helped us find the right forms and information for our Vanuatu Elder to prepare. Patience while our Heavenly Father prepares us for things we can't yet see.

We completed the week with the Zone Conference itself on Tuesday. In the accompanying pictures you will note the difference in the appearance of the missionaries between p-day attire and their 'conference dress.' As always, we enjoy being taught both by the missionary leadership as well as by President and Sister Ostler.

Peace reigns, service projects and the Primary

We came out of the week with no significant activity from the local syndicat (union) as we waited for judgements against their leaders. Those will not now be announced for several weeks. meanwhile the government is making a regular showing of power keeping things quite calm. A welcome relief for all.

Pictured nearby are 4 of the Elders' Quorum Presidents in our training session from Wednesday evening. Carl is gradually moving through the organization with some kind of training along the way. These good, young, energetic brethren carry heavy responsibilities and work hard at serving the members of their branches. We focused on helping in their responsibility to teach how to perform the ordinances of the Gospel to their quorum members and how to organize home teaching. the latter including what a home teacher is to do, how and why to get reports from each home teaching team and how organize their efforts delegating some of the work to their counselors. Co-incident with this training was the visit from Tahiti of a team helping the District install the Church's record system. It has a significant module on home teaching, so we invited one of them to come and demonstrate. These young Presidents are computer savvy brethren and had no trouble learning to navigate the system. Of course there will be some work up front getting things started, but then the tool will help enormously.

On Saturday we participated with most of the missionaries as well as about 60 members of the District in a clean up service project in one of the neighboring towns, Mont Dore. We have a chapel there and two teams of missionaries serving in the area. The village was hosting a clean up along roads, around schools and parks and athletic fields. We congregated about 7a and started working by 8 finishing about noon. Donated hours amounted about 320. Bags of cans, plastic bottle and general garbage were significant. We sorted as we accumulated to make re-cycling easier. The community provided sandwiches and water for us midway through the morning for which we were quite grateful. Starting at 8a meant leaving home by 6:30a and breakfasts were much earlier. Kept us from fading away before noon. Pictured nearby are the members of the district being instructed by our public relations co-ordinator as well as the missionaries outfitted in the complimentary t-shirts given each of the workers. We worked hard and were quite tired by the midday completion.

Home for showers, a quick nap and then the Primary talent night which commenced at 4p. Old people have trouble keeping up such a pace. Each branch in the district provided a talent usually around a story line. While the relationship between their assigned theme such as repentance, hope, or longanimity were sometimes a bit of a stretch, we completely enjoyed watching these beautiful children perform dances they had learned. They are beautiful with large brown eyes, beautiful olive skin and quick smiles. Sister Mautz notes they have eyelashes to die for! A number of pictures nearby will give you a better look at cowboys, native dancers and the like.

We visited the Tontouta branch for Church services today. These good Saints welcome us, help Sister Mautz with her French and feed us. Elder Mautz was one of the speakers in Sacrament Service. In teaching about serving together as one, he used the example of our own home ward in Oakton where much is given supporting each other in the difficulties, sadness and challenges of life. We are grateful for their example as we serve here. The branch is preparing for a fireside next Saturday. Nearby is a film clip of the branch choir with a few missionaries singing a familiar Primary song, in French however and with some great harmony provided by the local musical talents.

We look forward next week to a visit with our Mission President and a Zone Conference. the next posting may be a few days later than usual.

New Missionary, Transfers and 2 C3's

Last weekend slipped away as Sister Mautz's hip recovered by limbering up and Elder Mautz prepared an unexpected talk for Sacrament meeting in the Noumea 1 branch. In the meantime, we have welcomed a new Elder, Elder Seiko, cracked the code to import meds, cleaned the closet and sent off dear missionaries to new assignments.

Elder Seiko, whom you met a few weeks ago with his enthusiastic willingness to depart with less than 24 hours notice, returned to us this week from his 3 weeks at the MTC in New Zealand. He is glad to be at work and is a great addition. Elder Styles is his new companion and trainer. We picked up Elder Seiko at the airport in Tontouta on Wednesday after a false start on Tuesday. Seems they didn't get him to the airport in time for his flight. But he arrived via Fiji Wednesday right on time. We got him to his new companion. They are working hard and having fun at it. Pictures nearby show him with Elder Styles and during his orientation with the zone leaders. We should note in passing that Elder Seiko is from New Caledonia. His father is a passed District president here and now is a branch president in Lifou, an island part of New Caledonia just to the East. His sister is currently serving here in the Tontouta branch. We were to join that district with Elder Seiko on Tuesday. When he didn't arrive as expected, we went on to the district meeting, also pictured nearby, where his sister was teaching a lesson. When we walked in without her brother, she carried on without batting eye. We admired her tenacity and faithfulness.

As we start our 6th month of our mission, it became time to need more prescription medicines. We had originally been told that importing them was out of the question. However, in doing a little listening at the customs office which we visit regularly while picking up packages for the missionaries, we began to understand that with some proper preparation, we could have prescription medicines shipped in. Now to crack the code as to how that was done. When Elder Mautz asked just how this could be done, he was sent 'over there' to another building. With some more questions, we met the medical inspector who explained just what we needed. The hardest part, we thought, was already done since we had with us copies of our prescriptions. That turned out to be the easiest. The hardest part was securing the importation form from the government printing office a few blocks away and which is only open until 3p in spite of what the signs say on the building. After 3 tries we succeeded, completed the form, got back to the medical inspector who efficiently stamped it, got it to his superior for signature and back to us in 24 hours. So now we are authorized drug importers, of a sort. We feel like Carl cracked the code.

Behind our office is a storage closet all our own. And stuffed with leftovers from closed missionary apartments, car wash supplies, and whatever else somebody thought might be useful sometime in the future. One afternoon while Sister Mautz was finishing up all kinds of reports, Carl cleaned the closet. (Yes, all we ever needed to know we did learn from our Mothers!) Pictured nearby are 3 shots of the before, contents all over the yard and after shots. Not only is it more useable, but we actually know what is there. When one of the apartments needed a vacuum cleaner, we knew we had one! Somehow not as quite as big a deal in writing as it was as we washed floors, wiped down shelves, carried away the true garbage, washed and cleaned bed covers that were again needed this week in the cooler weather we are having in winter, and organized!

The arrival of new missionaries always begets transfers. And we had the second major round of these since our arrival. The lesson we learn each time is that the Lord guides this very sensitive part of His work carefully. New missionary companionships bring new opportunities for service, to learn new skills in teaching and to support each other. We note that the missionaries continue to be concerned for former companions, their comforts and needs. As we were responding to opening a long vacant apartment and getting new mattresses, a missionary noted to us that an apartment he had just left also needed a mattress.He was OK being uncomfortable himself, but his successor deserved better! Pictured nearby are several of the new companionships, the general 'chaos' of transferring luggage between cars etc and the evident joy these good missionaries feel in being together.

Part of these transfers included sending our senior zone leader back into full time proselyting service for the remaining 8 weeks of his mission. He is a gentle Tahitian. A hard worker and great teacher. He will help his new companion as well as strengthening the branch where he will be serving. We will miss him a great deal as he has been at our right hand these last months patiently training us in everything from how to drive through a 'rond point' to banks, visas, and all the rest. We will see how we survive and look forward to seeing him when we visit the Tontouta branch.

We are in good health, busily engaged and grateful to be here.